Good morning, Missoula.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Missoula has mailed nearly 400,000 free books to children under five since 1995, with local education staff noting 70.4% participation among kindergarten entrants.

United Way supports the program to boost early reading skills.

Local experts from People and Carnivores advise residents to secure trash in bear-resistant containers, protect livestock and fruit trees with proper fencing, and remove bird feeders this fall as bears search for food amid poor berry crops and a dry summer.

Crews are fighting a wildfire that began burning Wednesday in the Missoula Ranger District outside the Rattlesnake Wilderness, with smoke visible from the city while a crew hikes to the site & heli-rappellers work nearby.

The Nature Grove Fire has grown to 550 acres and evacuation warnings remain near Skalkaho Highway+ crews slowed the spread using water drops near Black Bear Point.

A community meeting is today at 7 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Grange #116 to review fire operations.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet soon to set limits for hunting and trapping wolves; past meetings have seen strong debate over the data used for the rules.

A partial lunar eclipse will light up the sky tonight at 10:13 p.m. across Montana (clear skies and low wildfire smoke are expected to enhance the view).

Missoula County adopted a resolution today to manage estray horses roaming Miller Creek and areas south.

The resolution permits private landowners to capture abandoned horses and mandates inspections by the Montana Department of Livestock (and sets guidelines for transfer, signage, and birth control) to address safety concerns.

Sixteen Western split-estate landowners urged Interior Sec.

Doug Burgum and BLM Director Stevan Pearce on Monday to keep the current oil and gas rule allowing full notification and a 90 day public comment period. They say the changes would restrict their input and expose their land to drilling and mining.

USA TODAY's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards ranked the University of Montana's sports culture as the best college sports town in the country.

Griz Athletics contributes over $94 million annually to the local economy + supports 728 community jobs.

The Missoula PaddleHeads won a close game against the Oakland Ballers Tuesday in Oakland and improved their record to 50-34 in the first match of a three-game series.